Seven-Eleven Japan to Ease Freshness Reversal Policy for Soft Drink Deliveries to Address Driver Shortage and Reduce Food Loss

Seven-Eleven Japan, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Tomohiro Akutsu; hereinafter "the Company") will sequentially advance an initiative to relax freshness reversal standards for soft drink deliveries, starting with deliveries from Wednesday, July 15. The Company will be a pioneer in promoting this initiative within the retail industry.

Due to commercial practices in manufacturing, distribution, and sales (*2), there has been an issue of truck transport occurring for the purpose of preventing freshness reversal under rules and standards that are more than appropriate. In response to this issue, which was raised in a report last November by the beverage industry's 'Social Issues Response Study Group' (*3), this initiative will be launched as a measure to help solve social problems such as logistics issues and food loss.

In this initiative, by also accommodating deliveries with a freshness reversal of about one month within the delivery deadline, we will connect this to a reduction in the number of transport trucks and surplus inventory at centers. Even after implementation, products will be delivered to stores with the delivery and sales deadlines unchanged.

Through this initiative, we expect to achieve a reduction of about 3,000 transport trucks (*1) for beverage manufacturers' products and a reduction in food loss. Furthermore, the reduction in the number of trucks is expected to lead to work style reform for drivers, a reduction in CO2 emissions, and a reduction in the use of limited petroleum resources, contributing to a sustainable society and environment.

The Company will continue to advance ongoing efforts to solve logistics challenges in the future.

*1 Estimated number of trucks by the Company. *2 Refers to manufacturing (sei), distribution (hai), and retail (han). *3 A study group established in November 2024 by five soft drink companies: Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd., Ito En, Ltd., Kirin Beverage Company, Limited, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc., and Suntory Beverage & Food Limited. The group engages in broad discussions on social issues such as the Logistics 2024 Problem, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and the food loss problem.

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